Method for producing a lift and a horizontal thrust

ABSTRACT

A method of producing a lifting force and a horizontal force by aerodynamic surfaces includes the steps of moving aerodynamic surfaces along a circumference and providing their oscillations; rotating each of the aerodynamic surfaces synchronously with the movement along the circumference, in a direction which is opposite to it, relative to an axis of rotation which is parallel to an axis of the movement along the circumference, with an angular speed which is equal to an angular speed of the movement along the circumference, and performing oscillations of each of the aerodynamic surfaces synchronously with a rotation relative to mutually perpendicular axes located correspondingly in two mutually perpendicular planes which intersect along an axis of rotation of the aerodynamic surfaces, wherein one of them passes through an axis of the movement along the circumference and the axis of rotation.

The invention relates to aerodynamics of flying apparatuses andrepresents a method of producing a lifting force and a horizontal thrustby aerodynamic surfaces, that are driven in movement by alifting-pulling propulsion device of a flying apparatus.

A method of producing a lifting force and a horizontal thrust by avane-type carrying screw of a helicopter is known, which includesmovement of vanes along a circumference and their oscillation around alongitudinal axis (A. M. Volodko “Helicopter—a Worker and a Soldier”, M.Publishing House DOSAAF USSR, 1984, pages 82-83, FIG. 24).

A disadvantage of the known method is its rather low efficiency ofproduction of a lifting force because the cross-sections of the vaneshave different velocities relative to air, the lower the radii ofcircumferences described by these cross-sections, the lower the speed.As a result, a surface distribution of the aerodynamic force on thevanes appears to be non uniform (close to a square), which significantlyreduces the efficiency of this method of producing the lifting force.

A method of producing a lifting force and a horizontal thrust byaerodynamic surfaces (vanes) of a helicopter is known, which includesmovement of aerodynamic surfaces along a circumference and theiroscillation (W. Johnson “Theory of a Helicopter, V. 1, M, “Mir”, 1983,pages 37-38, FIG. 1.6) which is the closes analog.

A disadvantage of this known method is that it has rather low efficiencyof producing a lifting force because the cross-sections of the vaneshave different velocities relative to air, the lower the radii ofcircumferences described by these cross-sections, the lower thevelocity. As a result, a surface distribution of the aerodynamic forceon the vanes appears to be non uniform (close to a square) whichsignificantly reduces the efficiency of this method of producing alifting force.

As the basis of the invention, an objective of finding a method ofproducing a lifting force and a horizontal thrust by aerodynamicsurfaces is presented, in which a distribution of aerodynamic forcesalong aerodynamic surfaces which is close to a uniform is provided, thatleads to high efficiency of producing both a lifting force and ahorizontal thrust.

The objective of providing a method of producing a lifting force and ahorizontal thrust by aerodynamic surfaces is achieved in that in amethod of producing a lifting force and a horizontal thrust byaerodynamic surfaces including a movement of the aerodynamic surfacesalong a circumference and their oscillation, in accordance with theinvention each aerodynamic surface rotates synchronously with themovement along a circumference in an opposite direction relative to anaxis of rotation which is parallel to an axis of the movement along thecircumference with angular of velocity equal to angular velocity of themovement along a circumference, and the oscillations are performed byeach aerodynamic surface synchronously with the movement relative to twomutually perpendicular axes which are located correspondingly in twomutually perpendicular planes that intersect along the axis of rotationof the aerodynamic surface, wherein one of the planes extends throughthe axis of movement along the circumference and the axis of rotation.

The rotation of each aerodynamic surface synchronously with the movementalong a circumference in an opposite direction relative to the axis ofrotation that is parallel to the axis of rotation along thecircumference with angular speed equal to angular speed of the movementalong the circumference, provides a rectilinear (without rotation)movement of the aerodynamic surface relative to air, which provides aproduction of a uniform distribution of the aerodynamic forces along anaerodynamic surface, leading to a high efficiency of production of thelifting force.

Performing of oscillations of each aerodynamic surface synchronouslywith their rotation relative to the mutually perpendicular axes, thatare perpendicular to the axis of the movement of the aerodynamic surfacealong the circumference, provides simultaneously with the lifting force,the production of a horizontal thrust.

FIG. 1 shows a scheme of production of a rectilinear movement ofaerodynamic surfaces;

FIG. 2 are successive positions of an aerodynamic surface duringproduction of a rectilinear movement;

FIG. 3 is a scheme of oscillations of an aerodynamic surface during itsmovement along a circumference;

FIG. 4 is a view from above on an propulsion device for producing alifting force and a horizontal thrust by aerodynamic surfaces;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the propulsion device for production of alifting force and a horizontal thrust by aerodynamic surfaces.

Aerodynamic surfaces 1 move along a circumference 2 in a direction shownby an arrow 3 relative to an axis of movement 4. Each aerodynamicsurface 1 rotates synchronously with the movement along thecircumference 2, in a direction which is opposite to it, as shown by anarrow 5, relative to an axis 6 of rotation that is parallel to an axis 4of movement along the circumference 2 with angular velocity equal toangular velocity of the movement along the circumference 2. As a resulta rectilinear movement of the aerodynamic surfaces 1 is produced. Inthree subsequent positions of the aerodynamic surface 1 (FIG. 2), arrows7 show a vector of an instantaneous average velocity of the aerodynamicsurface 1 relative to air. Due to the production of a rectilinearmovement of the aerodynamic surfaces 1, velocities of all points of theaerodynamic surfaces 1 are equal, and therefore a deviation of a surfacedistribution of the aerodynamic force from uniform is determined only bya shape of the aerodynamic surface and is not great. Each aerodynamicsurface 1 performs, synchronously with its rotation, oscillationsrelative to two mutually perpendicular axes which are locatedcorrespondingly in two mutually perpendicular planes 8 and 9, thatintersect along an axis 6 of rotation of the aerodynamic surfaces 1,wherein one of the planes 9 extends through the axis 4 of the movementalong the circumference and the axis 6 of rotation, while the otherplane 8 is tangent to the circumference 2 and is parallel to the axis 4of movement. The direction of these oscillations are conditionally shownby arrows 10 and 11 correspondingly in the planes 8 and 9. Since theaerodynamic surfaces 1 move rectilinearly, the produced lifting force isdistributed on them uniformly, which provides a high energy efficiencyof the propulsion device. During the oscillations of the aerodynamicsurfaces 1 relative to the axes, together with the lifting force also ahorizontal thrust is produced, wherein a distribution of the aerodynamicforce on the aerodynamic surfaces 1 remains close to uniform.

The number of the aerodynamic surfaces 1 and angular velocities ofmovement along the circumference by the aerodynamic surfaces 1 andangular velocities of oscillations of the aerodynamic surfaces 1 areselected by experimental-calculating method from conditions ofproduction of a lifting force.

Angles of oscillation of the aerodynamic surfaces 1 are selected byexperimental-calculating method from the condition of providing a givenhorizontal thrust without losing a lifting force. The methods ofproducing a lifting force and a horizontal thrust by aerodynamicsurfaces can be performed, for example, by a propulsion device of afollowing construction.

The propulsion device is composed of a frame 12 with an immovable axis 4of movement, two aerodynamic surfaces 1 mounted on the frame 12. Arotation of the frame 12 together with the aerodynamic surfaces 1relative to the immovable axis 4 of the movement can be performed bymeans of any mechanical drive, for example, the propulsion device isarranged on the axis 4 of the movement and connected with a spider, onthe frame a second spider is fixed, and both spiders are connected by achain (not shown in the drawings).

A rotation of each aerodynamic surface 1 in an opposite direction withangular velocity equal to angular velocity of rotation of the frame 12is performed by means of a chain transmission 13 with equal spiders, oneof which is arranged on the immoveable axis 4 of movement and connectedwith the propulsion device, while the other spider is arranged on theaxis 6 of the movement, on which the aerodynamic surface 1 is fixed.Both spiders are connected by a chain.

Oscillations of the aerodynamic surfaces 1 are performed by a mechanicalcopying mechanism which includes a profile disc 14 mounted on an axis ofrotation 6, on which the aerodynamic surface 1 is fixed. Verticalplungers-pushers 14 slide on the profiled disc 14 and interact with theaerodynamic surface 1 arranged on a hinge with a possibility ofoscillations.

The propulsion device operates in the following manner.

The frame 12 together with the aerodynamic surfaces 1 moves along acircumference relative to the axis 4 of movement by means of a drivewith spiders and a chain. Simultaneously each of the two aerodynamicsurfaces 1, synchronously with the movement along a circumference,rotates in a direction which is opposite to it relative to the axis 6 ofrotation of the parallel axis 4 of movement with angular speed equal toangular speed of movement along the circumference by means of the chaintransmission 13. The rotation from the propulsion device is transmittedto the spider and then along the chain to the second spider, to impartrotation to the axis 6 of rotation and the corresponding aerodynamicsurface 1 and to provide a rectilinear movement of the aerodynamicsurfaces 1. By means of the mechanical copying mechanism, eachaerodynamic surface 1 performs, synchronously with rotation,oscillations relative to mutually perpendicular axes, which are locatedcorrespondingly in two mutually perpendicular planes, intersecting alongthe axis of rotation of the aerodynamic surfaces 1, one of which extendsthrough the axis 4 of movement and the axis 6 of rotation. During theimplementation of rotation of the axes 6 of rotation and the aerodynamicsurfaces 1, the profiled disc 14 rotates and the plunger-pushers 15slide along the profiled disc 14 and oscillate the aerodynamic surfaces1 by certain angles so as to provide a production of a horizontal thrustsimultaneously with the production of the lifting force.

Example of implementation of the method of producing a lifting force anda horizontal thrust by aerodynamic surfaces.

A propulsion device with two aerodynamic surfaces 1 is used. Eachaerodynamic surface 1 moves along a circumference together with theframe 12 relative to the axis 4 of movement by means of a mechanicaldrive, wherein each aerodynamic surface 1, synchronously with themovement along the circumference rotates in a direction which isopposite to it relative to an axis of rotation of the parallel axis 4 ofmovement along a circumference with angular velocity equal to angularvelocity of movement along a circumference by means of a mechanicaldrive. Due to the production of rectilinear movement of the aerodynamicsurfaces 1, a uniform distribution of aerodynamic forces along theaerodynamic surfaces 1 is provided, which leads to a high efficiency ofproduction of a lifting force. Each aerodynamic surface 1 performsoscillations synchronously with the rotation relative to the twomutually perpendicular axes, that are located correspondingly in twomutually perpendicular planes, intersecting along an axis of rotation ofthe aerodynamic surfaces 1, wherein one of them extends through the axis4 of movement along the circumference and the axis 6 of rotation bymeans of the mechanical copying mechanism, wherein together with alifting force, a horizontal thrust is produced, whereas the distributionof the aerodynamic force on the aerodynamic surfaces 1 remains uniform.

The proposed method of producing a lifting force and a horizontal thrustby aerodynamic surfaces allows, with the use of the propulsion device,to provide a flight of a flying apparatus with a high energy efficiency.

1. (canceled)
 2. A method of producing a lifting force and a horizontalforce by aerodynamic surfaces, comprising the steps of movingaerodynamic surfaces along a circumference and providing theiroscillations; rotating each of the aerodynamic surfaces synchronouslywith the movement along the circumference, in a direction which isopposite to it, relative to an axis of rotation which is parallel to anaxis of the movement along the circumference, with an angular speedwhich is equal to an angular speed of the movement along thecircumference, and performing oscillations of each of the aerodynamicsurfaces synchronously with a rotation relative to mutuallyperpendicular axes located correspondingly in two mutually perpendicularplanes which intersect along an axis of rotation of the aerodynamicsurfaces, wherein one of them passes through an axis of the movementalong the circumference and the axis of rotation.